U.S. patent number 5,209,406 [Application Number 07/512,218] was granted by the patent office on 1993-05-11 for swivel valve for fluid jet cutting.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Ingersoll-Rand Company. Invention is credited to Jack L. Johnson.
United States Patent |
5,209,406 |
Johnson |
May 11, 1993 |
Swivel valve for fluid jet cutting
Abstract
A fluid activated valving apparatus for controlling a very high
pressure liquid being adapted for serving as a focused jet liquid
stream for use in cutting materials comprising an axially-aligned
spindle located sealingly in a liquid delivery conduit adapted to
introduce the high pressure liquid into a chamber. One or more
bearings are disposed slidably about the free end of a spindle
enclosed within the valve body, adapted for sealing engagement, and
also to permit unstressed rotation of the spindle through a
360.degree. arc about the spindle longitudinal axis in response to
torsional stresses being intermittently exerted on the exposed free
end of the spindle.
Inventors: |
Johnson; Jack L. (Joplin,
MO) |
Assignee: |
Ingersoll-Rand Company
(Woodcliff Lake, NJ)
|
Family
ID: |
24038181 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/512,218 |
Filed: |
April 20, 1990 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
239/434; 239/584;
239/587.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B26F
3/004 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B26F
3/00 (20060101); B05B 015/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;239/587,584,9,596,434
;285/276,281 ;901/43,28,29 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Kashnikow; Andres
Assistant Examiner: Weldon; Kevin P.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Bell; James R. Foster; Glenn B.
Vliet; Walter C.
Claims
Having described the invention, what is claimed is:
1. A swivel valve for fluid jet cutting comprising:
a fluid flow switch;
a piston reciprocally movable in response to the switch and mounted
to a valve body;
an axially-moveable valve stem means pinned to said piston at one
longitudinal end for acting in concert therewith;
first conduit means for receiving a stream of a high-pressure
liquid;
an expansion chamber disposed in a liquid transfer relationship
with said conduit means located within said valve body;
an apertured valve seat located at one end of the expansion
chamber;
the valve stem being functionally oriented in said expansion
chamber and having on its other longitudinal end a tip surface
adapted to effect an interruptible sealing engagement with the
valve seat;
seal means disposed between a shaft portion of the valve stem and
said chamber to preclude commingling of fluid and high pressure
liquid;
second conduit means for liquid outflow connected to said expansion
chamber and providing the valve seat for engaging a free end tip of
said valve stem when said piston is actuated in said sealing
direction;
an expansion section in said second conduit means for developing a
laminar flow of said high pressure liquid;
nozzle means on a distal end of said second conduit means for
shaping the flow pattern of the liquid cutting jet stream upon
release from the assembly, wherein the nozzle means is modified to
receive a fluid injection means for introduction of a particulate
abrasive material into the liquid cutting jet stream before
emerging from said assembly; and
spindle means associated with the first conduit means adaptable
mounted within the valve body to be rotatable through a 360.degree.
degree arc, whereby unstressed permitted movements of the spindle
means are possible.
2. The valve of claim 1 wherein the valve containing the expansion
chamber and the first and second conduits is secured upon and made
movable by a robot arm, adapted to traverse in both linear and
curvilinear directions, said first conduit means including an
axially-aligned spindle located sealing therein, and with the free
end of the spindle means being adapted to permit its unstressed
rotation in response to torsional stresses being intermittently
exerted upon it by a linked external liquid feed conduit means.
3. The valve of claim 1 wherein the valve body and first and second
conduits are secured directly to a robot arm, being moveable
therewith in the X and Y dimensions of the plane of said arm, and
said body concurrently having an axially aligned spindle means
located sealingly in the first conduit, which spindle is externally
and operationally connected to a feed liquid supply conduit means
and is adapted to undergo unstressed rotation in response to
torsional forces being exerted upon the axis of said spindle by
said feed liquid supply conduit.
4. In a fluid activated valving apparatus for controlling a very
high pressure liquid being adapted for serving as a focused liquid
cutting jet stream assembly including hydraulic switching means, a
piston responsive to the switching means, a valving stem pinned to
the piston, an expansion chamber associated with the stem, a liquid
conduit delivery means for receiving a high pressure liquid stream
and directing same to the chamber, a valved liquid outlet means
disposed spaced apart in the expansion chamber cooperating with the
stem to valve high pressure liquid outflow from the chamber, a
nozzle means at a distal end of the liquid outflow means for
forming a focused liquid jet stream for use as a cutting means, all
located within or connected to a valve body, the improvement
comprising:
an axially-aligned spindle means located sealingly in the liquid
conduit delivery means of the valve body for introducing the high
pressure liquid into the chamber, and a bearing means disposed
slidably about the free end of the spindle means enclosed within
the valve body for making sealing engagement therewith, but also
permitting unstressed rotation of the spindle means in response to
torsional stresses being intermittently exerted on said exposed
free end of the spindle means, wherein the nozzle means is modified
to receive a fluid injection means for introduction of a
particulate abrasive material into the cutting stream before
emerging from said assembly.
5. The valve of claim 4 wherein the valve body is secured upon and
made movable by a robot arm, adapted to traverse in both linearly
and curvilinear directions, said liquid conduit delivery means
including an axially-aligned spindle located sealingly therein, and
with the free end of the spindle means being adapted to permit its
unstressed rotation in response to torsional stresses being
intermittently exerted upon it by a linked external liquid free
conduit means.
6. The valve of claim 4 wherein the valve body is secured directly
to a robot arm, being movable therewith in either of the X and Y
dimensions of the plane of said arm, and said body concurrently
having an axially aligned spindle means located sealingly in the
liquid conduit delivery means of the valve body, which spindle is
externally and operationally connected to a feed liquid supply
conduit means and is adapted to undergo unstressed rotation in
response to torsional forces being exerted upon the axis of said
spindle by said feed liquid supply conduit.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to fluid jet cutting nozzles
optionally coupled to abrasive additives for incorporation into the
cutting stream and more particularly to a swivel valve for use in
connection therewith.
In the past, fluid jet cutting nozzles have been coupled with
swiveling devices which will allow various degrees of rotation.
Limitations associated with prior art devices include the fact that
such swiveling devices tend to add more components, take up more
space and add extra weight to a cutting nozzle assembly. When these
limitations are taken into consideration, they will often limit the
applications in which the cutting nozzle assembly can be used.
The foregoing illustrates limitations known to exist in present
devices and methods. Thus, it is apparent that it would be
advantageous to provide an alternative directed to overcoming one
or more of the limitations set forth above. Accordingly, a suitable
alternative is provided including features more fully disclosed
hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the invention, this is accomplished by providing a
swivel valve for fluid jet cutting comprising a fluid flow switch,
a piston reciprocally moveable in response to the switch and to a
valve body, an axially-moveable valve stem pinned to the piston at
one longitudinal end and acting in concert therewith. A first
conduit is provided for receiving a stream of a high-pressure
liquid. An expansion chamber is disposed in a liquid transfer
relationship with the conduit located within the valve body. An
apertured valve seat is located at one end of the expansion
chamber. The valve stem is functionally oriented in the expansion
chamber and has its other longitudinal end tip surface adapted to
effect an interruptible sealing engagement with the valve seat. A
seal is disposed between the valve stem shaft and the chamber, to
preclude commingling of fluid and high pressure liquid. A second
conduit for liquid outflow is connected to the expansion chamber
and provides the valve seat for engaging the free tip of the valve
stem when the piston is actuated in the sealing direction. An
expansion section is in the second conduit means for developing a
laminar flow of the high pressure liquid. A nozzle is on the distal
end of the second conduit for shaping the flow pattern of the
liquid cutting jet stream upon release from the assembly. A spindle
is associated with the first conduit adaptably mounted within the
valve body to be rotatable through a 360.degree. arc, whereby
unstressed permitted movements of the spindle are possible.
The foregoing and other aspects will become apparent from the
following detailed description of the invention when considered in
conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a prior art water valve and cutting
assembly as it is coupled to fluid jet cutting nozzle;
FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view illustrating an embodiment of
the jet cutting assembly of the present invention depicting the
valve actuation, the valving, and the liquid jet output components,
cooperating according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an end elevational view, partly in section as to the
complete jet assembly of FIG. 2, illustrating the first embodiment
of a supporting structure for both the valve body and for the
upstream flow components, which provide high pressure liquid to the
spindle-type feed element of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, being fully schematic as to the
jet assembly of FIG. 2, illustrating the supporting structure and
high pressure liquid feed means to the valving component of FIG.
3;
FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, also in section as to the jet
assembly of FIG. 2, illustrating a second embodiment of the
supporting structure and the high pressure liquid feed to that
valving body;
FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 5
(fully schematic), illustrating the rotational mobility of the
water feed conduit and its associated spindle injection means,
relative to the assembly support and activation means (with the
alternate directions of conduit rotation being shown) and
FIG. 7 is another vertical sectional view of the liquid cutting jet
assembly of FIG. 2, with the outlet nozzle end having been modified
to include an accessory assembly, adapted for adding a particulate,
abrasive material to the focused liquid stream before the cutting
jet is beamed upon a workpiece.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals
represent like elements, there is shown in FIG. 1, a typical water
jet valve assembly 1 (prior art) in schematic form. The valve 10
comprises a central valve body component 2, which is operatively
connected to an upper valve actuator means 3. The upper valve
actuator means 3 is typically a reciprocating piston actuator. Also
cooperating with the valving component is a depending fluid output
component 4, from which very high pressure, focused fluid jets
emerge to impinge upon a checkable material or workpiece (not
shown). Connected via a tube adaptor nut means 5 to valve body 2 is
a spindle means 6 for admitting high pressure liquid to the valve
body interior where the fluid is flow regulated b certain valving
components. Such spindle means is encased in a swivelling body 7
that also connects to a liquid supply line 8 which can be rotated
relative thereto.
A preferred embodiment of the water jet cutting assembly 10 of the
present invention is shown in FIG. 2. The water jet cutting
assembly 10 comprises a central valve body 12, which is operatively
connected to an upper valve actuator means 14. The upper valve
actuator means 14 comprises a reciprocating piston actuator which
will be described in more detail hereinafter. Also cooperating with
the valving component is a depending fluid output component 16,
from which very high pressure, focused fluid jets emerge to impinge
upon a checkable material or workpiece (not shown). Inserted into
the valve body 12 is a spindle means 20 for admitting high-pressure
liquid to the valve body interior where the fluid is flow regulated
by certain valving components to be described below.
The valve actuator 14 is composed of a peripherally threaded,
planar plate 26 completing the body enclosure of the actuator. Two,
offset counterbores, 28a and 28b, are provided in the upper surface
30 of plate 26, for mounting purposes. Centrally located is a
tapered bore hole 32, (also threaded), which communicates with a
variable-volume, cylindrical inner chamber 34, carrying hydraulic
fluid that exerts fluid pressure on upper planar surface 36 of
piston 38. Central bore 32 in plate 36 is also in fluid
communication with an external hydraulic valve 40, by means of
hydraulic feed line 42, (shown schematically) the function of which
is well-known in the art. The hydraulic valve 40 may be a Skinner
solenoid-actuated spool type valve.
Activation of the entire fluid jet assembly 10 is controlled via
valve 40 in selectively admitting hydraulic fluid to chamber 34 via
feed line 42 and central bore 32. This permits piston 38 to move
axially within the confines of head chamber 44, seating itself
against planar surface 46 at its point of maximal advance. A deep
annular recess 48 is provided in the surface 50 of the piston 36
opposing the planar surface 50 of the piston 36 opposing the planar
surface 46 in order to reduce its mass.
Aligned along the central axis of the piston 38 and extending
toward the valve body is a valve stem 54 having a reduced diameter
length 52 extending into the valve body. The valve stem 54 is
fixedly mounted within a bore located on the opposing face 50 of
piston 38. The entire valve actuator body 14 is then threadedly
fitted (or similarly mounted) into the valve body 12. Disposed
about the reduced diameter length 52 of valve stem 54 is a packing
combination 56, typically composed of paired adjacent deformable
gaskets and an abutting seal, the outer surface of which forms one
side of expansion chamber 58 (see, for instance, FIG. 2 of U.S.
Pat. No. 4,162,763). The function of the packing 56 is to preclude
high-pressure fluid from permeating (along the moving valve stem)
into the hydraulic section head space 44 of the actuation valve
14.
Positioned normal to the axis of the valve stem 54 is a liquid
inlet passage 60, which is integral of spindle 20. The inlet
spindle 20 is detachably inserted into valving body 12, such that
its proximal end 62 is located just short of the shaft of
reciprocating valve stem 52. Spindle 20 has a flanged midsection
64, which seats on the central shoulder 66 of valve body recess
68.
Interposed about the forward midsection 7 of spindle 20 (ahead of
flange 64) is a first packing bearing 72. This provides a resilient
backing for the O-ring sealing structure 22, that is disposed
circumferentially of the spindle shaft on the opposing face
(upstream) of flange 64. A press-fit, cap-like bushing 74, also
having an axial bore, compressively biases the O-ring seal 22
against the spindle flange 64. Despite the opposing juxtaposition
of bearing 72 and seal 22, they do permit rotation of spindle 20,
and will tolerate minor misalignments from the intended
perpendicular incidence of the spindle 20 and the axis of valve
stem 54. Ahead of seal 72 is an abutting, sleeve-like seal 76 that
embraces the innermost spindle segment 60.
The beveled tip 78 of reduced diameter length 52 of valve stem 54
seals by contacting with fluid exit port 80 of expansion chamber
58.
Accordingly, as the valve stem 54 is actuated to retract at least
partly from port 80, high pressure water flows through expansion
chamber 58, fluid exit port 80, aperture-bearing extension 82, and
into expansion conduit 86 of outflow spindle 84, causing instant
outflow through a nozzle element 88. In this manner the high
pressure fluid performs its cutting function on various articles
that are to be located below the effluent jet, such as alloyed
steel, Kevlar materials and even fiberglass-reinforced objects
Remembering that the larger diameter shaft segment of the valve
stem 54 is pinned fixedly within the lower surface recess 50 of
piston 38 such that as stem 54 is moved outward, the resulting flow
through expansion chamber 58 and outflow passage 86 causes an
increase in the hydraulic pressure, now ranging up to 60,000 psi,
which is delivered through the nozzle 88. The outflow passage 86
also reduces turbulence in the fluid as such fluid expands and
flows through the passage.
Threadedly connected to the lower end of the outflow spindle 84 psi
a cap assembly 90. The effluent jet liquid emerges from outlet port
92 to produce a finely-shaped and focused, high-velocity liquid jet
caused by the stated pressure magnitude.
When the jet cutting action is to cease, the fluid is actuated in
the forward mode to force fluid through line 42 into chamber 34
forcing piston 38 and its pinned stem 54 toward the valve body 12
until the latter seats stem 54 hermetically within the valve seat
formed by the proximal end of the outflow spindle 84. Sealing is
accomplished by the stem tip 78 coming into contact against the
walls of the fluid exit port 80. The high-pressure water flow is
shut-off from expansion conduit 86, until the stem is again moved
outward to permit flow through the expansion chamber 58.
A tapped bore 94 is shown as located in the sidewall 96 of valve
body 12. The side wall 96 of valve body 12. The side wall 96
opposes the wall receiving the spindle 20. The bore 94 is one of a
group of two or more, horizontally-aligned, bores which serve to
mount the water jet cutting assembly 10 via the valve body 12 onto
bolts, for example, of a robot arm. The securing of valve body 12
to such a robot arm anchors the spindle 20 in a fixed longitudinal
position, but is one which permits it to be rotatable through a
360.degree. ARC. A first mode of the high pressure liquid inflow to
the spindle permits such rotation, as is depicted in FIGS. 3 and
4.
A first embodiment for a jet stream device assembly supporting
structure and robotic-controlled manipulation of the assembly of
FIG. 2 (now turned 90) is depicted in the elevational view of FIG.
3. The water jet assembly 10 depends from, and is pinned to, a
support structure, generally 110. Liquid injection spindle 20 is
operably connected to a fluid coupler 24, which, in turn, is fed
from a reinforced flexible conduit 112 that terminates in a second
fluid coupler 114 connected to an overhead high-pressure liquid
main supply (not shown).
Depending plate member 116 is supported by (and bolted to) a space
element 118 mounted on the undersurface of the overlying robot arm
120, as will be better seen in the corresponding side elevational
view of FIG. 4. In this companion view, the water jet assembly is
viewed from the valve actuator body end and plate member 116 is an
integral member of U-shaped support bracket 122. Upon the distal
platform 124 of bracket 122, the valve body 12 is securely
fastened. An arc-shaped fitting 126 is fixedly mounted on the
curvilinear end 128 of robot arm 120, and supports depending
U-shaped bracket 122.
The upsteam liquid coupler 114 is operatively connected to liquid
supply header 130 which, in turn, is supplied by main liquid feed
conduit 132. As for downstream coupler 24 (connected direct to
spindle means 20), it is spaced-apart slightly from the U-bracket
proximal arm 134. This provides a somewhat flexible, elongate end
of liquid feed conduit 112. This mounting configuration, while
holding inflow spindle 20 in a set position relative to the water
jet cutting assembly, permits the control valve body 12 thereof to
be rotatable in a 360.degree. arc, about the axis of spindle
20.
Mounting of all elements is accomplished by using bolts threaded
into cooperating threaded apertures. Flow is maintained and leakage
prevented through the use of known coupling devices having
appropriate cooperating threaded junction and sealing members.
A second embodiment for a water jet cutting assembly support
structure and robotic manipulation means of the present invention
shown in FIG. 2, is depicted in the side elevation view of FIG. 5.
The full sectioned flow device, the water jet cutting assembly 10,
shown therein identical to that described in connection with FIG.
2. Flow actuating device or valve actuator 14 is provided with a
fluid supply via vertically-disposed conduit 140. Valve body
sidewall 96 has its tapped bore 94 securely mounted to vertically
positioned rigid plate 142 by means of a long, threaded bolt 144,
passing through spacer 146. Plate 142, in turn, depends from, and
is fixedly secured to hollow support beam 148, along its one side
wall 150.
On the opposite sidewall of valve body 12 there is located the
horizontally-aligned, flexibly-mounted, liquid supply spindle 20.
Spindle 20 is constructed and mounted mostly within the valve body
12, as was previously described. Fluid feed coupling element 24 is
secured conventionally to the protruding nipple end of the spindle
20. Coupling 24 is linked at its other operative face to high
pressure liquid feed conduit 112.
As the plate or support arm 142 and beam 148 are moved together, in
either an X or Y direction from their rest or neutral position
depicted in FIG. 6, the juxtaposition of feed conduit 112, compared
to the support plate 142 and fixedly positioned valve body 12, will
describe an arc-like path, as is depicted in the phantom views of
FIG. 6.
The reciprocal lateral movement (in the X,Y Plane 4) of support
plate 142 (as indicated by the double-headed linear arrow) creates
a distortional movement away from the at rest point for spindle 20.
The orientation of spindle 20 remains substantially perpendicular
to the internal valve stem 54 (FIG. 2) permit this axial rotational
movement of the spindle 20 and minor perpendicular misalignment to
be effected without such torsional stress on spindle 20 as could
induce structural cracking.
In operation of the first embodiment for the supporting structure
of FIGS. 3 and 4, as piston head 38 of actuator 14 retracts from
its seating against surface 46, the pinned valve stem 54/52 lifts
away from valve seat 80, permitting the liquid to flow through the
expansion chamber 58 and outflow passage 86 to orifice 92, emerging
as a focused, very high velocity liquid jet of substantial cutting
power. Liquid will continue to flow from header 130, through
coupler 114, conduit 112, and coupler 24 into spindle 20 so long as
valve stem tip 78 is spaced apart from the valve seat 80.
Rotation of robot-arm pinned support bracket 110 (to which valve
body 12 is anchored), causes like rotation of the entire water jet
cutting assembly 10. As the liquid feed conduit 112 is similarly
anchored at its distal end to header 132 (mounted on robot arm
120), the torsional stresses imposed on the external portion 136 of
spindle 20 are dampened by the bearings surrounding the spindle
within the valve body.
In operation of the second embodiment for the supporting structure
of FIGS. 5 and 6 again while valve stem 54/52 is displaced from the
valve seat 80, the focused liquid jet emerges from nozzle 88.
Liquid flows through conduit 112 into coupler 24 and enters spindle
20, flowing to expansion chamber 58 and through outlet conduit 86.
Movement of support plate 142, in either translational direction
(horizontally or vertically), will now be tolerated by the spindle,
without compromising its structural integrity, due to the
introductions of the thrust bearings 72, 74 surrounding spindle 20
within valve body 12.
A third embodiment of the water jet cutting assembly 10 is seen in
FIG. 7, wherein the cap assembly 90 of fluid output element 16 in
FIG. 2 has been removed and is replaced with an auxiliary fluid
inflow assembly 160. The structural modification serves to permit
the introduction or entraining of a particulate abrasive into the
water cutting jet of outlet conduit 86 and nozzle 88. Such abrasive
is added to the jet flow stream proximal to the liquid exit point
from the nozzle 88. Typically, the added material is a finely
crystallized garnet, but other hardened crystals, such as diamond
bits, could be usefully employed.
Assembly 160 comprises an elongated, solid member 162, the
longitudinal axis of which is coincident with the central axis of
outlet conduit 86 of outflow component 16. Member 162 has a
proximal end threaded counterbore 164, adapted to receive the
depending threaded nipple end 166 of output element 16. The orifice
92 of the nozzle 88 ends just above the point where the stream of
abrasive material enters a second expansion chamber 168 at right
angles thereto Chamber 168 is provided with an annular collar 170
to protect its sidewalls from eroding, caused by the entering high
velocity, abrasive stream.
The particulate abrasive, conveniently entrained in high pressure
water, enters the system through tubing 172, to make a right angle
injection into the liquid jet in chamber 168 which emerges from
outlet conduit 86. The tubing 172 is attached to a threaded nipple
174 configured much like upstream spindle 20, which engages a
recess 176 in member 162 for aligning the abrasive outlet port 178
of the nipple 174 within the chamber 168. The admixed abrasive and
water jet flow exit from the assembly via nozzle 180 and are
directed at the workpiece.
* * * * *